Slifer's mind raced as he considered the Peak Slifer Card. A surge of reluctance welled up in him; he only had three of those cards. To waste one on mere Core Formation cultivators? No, he wouldn’t do it. Well, not unless he absolutely had to.

Pushing his shoulders back, he straightened his stance, injecting every ounce of arrogance he could summon into his expression. "You know," he began, lips curling into a confident smirk, even as an inner voice whispered, Please buy it. Please buy it. "My hands have been quite itching to give out a proper beating today."

The five disciples paled considerably. Panic written all over their faces, they descended hastily, nearly crashing in their hurry. Fenlok, Yurna, and the others began to kowtow in a rushed, almost comedic fashion. Dentos, in his haste, tripped over a stray root, face planting into the ground. Without missing a beat, he shifted into a frantic kowtow as well.

I…I did not expect that. Slifer's arrogant facade was tested by the sheer absurdity of the situation. Are they really this afraid of me?

However, as they drew closer, Slifer could feel the oppressive weight of their Core Formation auras bearing down on him. His face turned a shade of deep crimson, and the world around him seemed to blur slightly. The pressure constricted his chest, making every breath a battle.

These fuckers, are they trying to kill me?

The disciples, noticing his reddening face, completely misunderstood his reaction. Is he... is he getting even angrier? Fenlok thought, feeling a cold shiver run down his spine.

Slifer managed to gasp out, "How dare you? Displaying your auras like that? Have you no respect?"

Damn it! We weren’t even flaunting it! Yurna thought, bitterness evident in her eyes, even as she hastily retracted her aura. Beside her, Fenlok did the same, shooting a wary glance at Slifer. The old demon's just looking for excuses to lash out, he inwardly fumed.

Slifer felt the weight on his chest begin to lessen as their auras were retracted. He coughed, taking a few ragged breaths to compose himself. During this slight respite, Yurna, still trembling, hastily tried to placate the elder she believed was on the brink of fury. "Esteemed Elder Slifer, we truly meant no disrespect! Please, spare our insignificant lives!"

Catching a glimpse of the Black Rose emblem on their robes, a wave of relief washed over Slifer. Ah, they are sect members. Haha, this could be my ticket out of here. Oh Heavens, you really did hear my prayers!

The question now was: how could he leverage this without giving away the fact that he had no idea what he was doing? After all, it would be odd for a an elder like him to ask for a ride.

"Enough!" Slifer bellowed, making the disciples stop their kowtowing and glance up timidly. "It appears that fate has brought us together for a reason."

Good, keep it vague and mysterious, Slifer thought.

Brolin, hesitatingly spoke up, "Elder Slifer, if there's anything we can assist you with..."

Slifer, seizing the opportunity, feigned contemplation. "I've been meaning to return to the sect. But... my recent meditation required me to abstain from flying for a while. You understand, don't you?"

The disciples nodded vigorously, none wanting to question such a bizarre stipulation. They had heard that Nascent Soul monsters would indulge in some odd habits. For instance, Elder Zantris meditated upside down for decades, believing that it would reverse his chi flow. Then there was the infamous Master Yanling who insisted on speaking backward during the Waxing Moon phase, thinking it would align her energies. Compared to such eccentricities, Slifer's flying abstinence didn’t seem too outlandish.

Fenlok hastily replied, "Of course, Elder! We can escort you back."

Slifer fought the urge to grin triumphantly. Nailed it! And they say hitchhiking is hard.

"Very well," he replied. "But only because the stars have decreed it."

Yurna, after a moment's hesitation, offered, "Elder, would you... like to share a sword with me?"

Slifer nodded as he put on an air of resigned tolerance, as though this arrangement was a minor but acceptable disruption to his grand spiritual pursuits.

But inside? Slifer was practically ecstatic. Sharing a sword with a real-life jade beauty? For a man who previously pursued the 'Dao of Anime Courtship', this felt like he'd hit the cosmic jackpot. He quickly subdued his inner otaku, sternly reminding himself to maintain his composed facade.

"But remember," he cautioned, "if you fly too erratically, you'll disturb my meditative state." The truth, however, was far less dignified: he was more worried about hurling in mid-air or, heaven forbid, falling off the sword entirely. Either would be a mortifying way to go, especially for a supposed Elder of his standing.

----------------------------------------

Soaring high in the skies, Slifer awkwardly stood behind Yurna on her flying sword, the wind tousling his hair. The vast expanse of blue beneath his feet gave him a feeling of both exhilaration and terror. Trying to keep balance was proving more challenging than he thought, and he swayed with each gust of wind, fighting the urge to clutch onto Yurna for support.

Why didn't anyone mention sword-flying was this tricky?

Slifer was doing his best to keep up the façade of an elder of the sect – an expert who had ridden countless swords before. However, the genuine look of panic in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.

When Yurna made a swift turn, Slifer, unprepared, nearly lost his balance. With a gasp, he instinctively grabbed onto her waist to steady himself.

Yurna stiffened immediately. Her thoughts raced; I've heard stories of old cultivation experts with... ulterior motives. Could Elder Slifer be...?

"E-Elder, are you okay?" she stammered, her voice betraying the calm facade she tried to project, a fragile smile painted on her face.

Trying to ease the palpable tension and regain his pride, Slifer nodded, attempting to appear unperturbed. "I am indeed, thank you. I must say," he began, thinking he'd divert the topic to something more casual, "you have an impressive physique. Yes, very... curvy, which surely must aid in flying."

Time seemed to stop. Yurna's forced smile faltered and then disappeared entirely. Her worst fears were confirmed. Elder Slifer is after my body! Her posture stiffened, panic evident in her eyes.

Seeing her reaction, Slifer mentally kicked himself. Idiot! This is what happens when your only experience with females comes from virtual dating sims! He groaned inwardly. Smooth move, Casanova.

Feeling the need to clarify, Slifer coughed awkwardly. "Erm, I meant that in a purely cultivation-related sense, of course!"

"Your physique suggests you've done an excellent job in maintaining your meridians, vital for qi flow... or... something..."

Yurna looked unconvinced, but before she could voice any concerns, Slifer, sensing he was digging himself into a deeper hole, quickly interjected, "Let's just focus on getting to the sect, shall we?"

Fenlock watched Elder Slifer's precarious balancing act on Yurna's sword, raising an eyebrow in the process. Seriously, what's this elder's deal? Does he have motion-sickness or is this some high-level cultivation technique? He pondered for a moment, then thought, Well, as long as he's not after Junior Sister Lenvari, it's fine by me. He gave a shrug, deciding that whatever weirdness the elder had in mind for Yurna was not his concern.

His thoughts soon turned to the enigma that was Tyrus. How to broach the topic without setting off the possibly unhinged elder? Did Elder Slifer give Tyrus a one-way ticket to the netherworld?

However, glancing at the uninjured Elder Slifer, Fenlock dismissed the idea. No, no way Tyrus would be taken down that easily. They must have missed each other or I’m pretty sure this old fool would be dead.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar split the air. "You dare!"

Whipping his head up, Fenlock's eyes met the spectacle of a bald, topless old man descending from the skies. Despite his age, the elder's physique was impressive, rippling with muscles that seemed to be chiseled from granite. The sunlight gleamed on his shiny head, making it almost blinding.

It was Elder Tarnyx, the renowned body cultivator from the Radiant Dawn Sect!

Fenlock's pupils dilated in shock. Elder Tarnyx?! Wasn't he supposed to be in secluded cultivation, preparing for his breakthrough to the Origin Realm? What’s he doing here? he thought, scrambling to put pieces of the puzzle together.

The palpable might emanating from Tarnyx was suffocating. Slifer, already struggling to maintain his expert façade, could feel cold beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The immense pressure was almost too much to bear. What on earth does this hulking bald guy want with me? he wondered.

Insight!

Name N/A Realm Half-Step Origin Realm Known Techniques N/A Known Affiliations N/A Disposition N/A

H-Half-Step Origin Realm?! What the hell did the original do?! Slifer felt like fate was playing a cruel trick on him, he could not catch a break.

As Tarnyx floated, the air around him trembled. "Slifer!" he boomed, his face an alarming shade of crimson. "How dare you lay hands on the flesh and blood of Tarnyx!"

Tarnyx? Slifer blinked, taken aback not just by the accusation but also by Tarnyx's peculiar way of speaking. D-Did he just talk about himself in the third person?

Swallowing his amusement and gulping down his nervousness, he replied, "Your flesh and blood? I have no idea what you're—"

"You think you can just kill the heir of Tarnyx and go about your day?" The elder seethed, recalling how he had been in deep meditation when the sudden extinguishing of his son's Soul Lamp jolted him awake. Abandoning everything, he had traveled from the sect to exact revenge.

Slifer was inwardly fuming at the situation he found himself in. By the heavens, he thought, how many enemies did this old coot make? Am I going to have to dodge vengeful relatives every time I step outside?

Fenlock stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Elder Slifer," he began cautiously, "I believe Elder Tarnyx is referring to the Radiant Dawn Sect's Young Master."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Slifer blinked. "Young Master? What Young Master? I haven't killed anyone this ti—" His voice trailed off as a memory surged into his mind. Right, the System had mentioned something about a Core Formation cultivator falling victim to the Reversal Card's power.

Slifer reluctantly turned to Tarnyx, an apologetic grimace on his face. "Elder Tarnyx, by any chance was your son in the Core Formation realm?"

Tarnyx's face contorted in rage, his aura crackling around him like a gathering storm. "Yes! And you dared to harm him!" The atmosphere around them grew heavy as Tarnyx's aura intensified, turning the surrounding space into a swirling vortex of oppressive energy.

Slifer's heart raced. He hadn't intended for this. He didn't even know anyone had been around when he used the Reversal Card! "Elder Tarnyx, I assure you it was an accident. I had no intention of harming a mere juni—"

His words were cut off by the roar of Elder Tarnyx, who in a flash, appeared behind Slifer. With an enraged bellow, Tarnyx delivered a powerful blow, the space around it warping and distorting under the sheer force.

Fucked. I'm so fucked, Slifer thought but then a sudden notification rang out.

Ding! Critical Block Activated!

To his astonishment, Tarnyx's attack rebounded off an invisible shield, sending the bald elder staggering back from the recoil.

The force of the rebound also blew away Dentos, who had for some strange reason been trying to get a closer look. He landed face-first into a mud puddle. "Not again!" he mumbled, spitting out some mud.

Slifer exhaled, his legs feeling like jelly. Whew, good thing that's a passive skill, he thought, still reeling from the shock of Tarnyx's blinding speed. He was right in front of me, and the next thing I know, he's behind me! That bald lightning bolt.

Yurna, maintaining her balance on the sword beside Slifer, inwardly cursed. Why did I offer this old man a ride? She had thought she would be able to curry favour with the elder, unlike the other Core Disciples here, she and Dentos didn’t have a strong backing. But, it turns out, not only was the elder a pervert but he also had a death wish!

Ding! Kill Your Attacker Reward: 75 Karmic Credits Failure: Death

Slifer's eyes widened. 75 credits? Is that a lot? He assumed so, killing a cultivator a half a step into the Origin Realm was no small feat but then again, he did have a System and with these Systems, you could never be certain.

He glanced warily at Tarnyx, whose face was twisted with anger. But a new conundrum plagued Slifer's mind: The last time he had killed, he lost credits. So, either killing was allowed as self-defense or the System was messing with him. Could it be that I can only kill when the System gives the green light?

He sighed heavily. If he were to stand any chance against the raging bald behemoth before him, he'd have to pull out the Peak Slifer Card. But the very thought of it made his heart race for all the wrong reasons. The probable credit deductions for invoking those dreaded demonic techniques could cost him dearly.

Why is this so complicated? Can't the System make up its mind? he thought exasperatedly.

Tarnyx's aura began to swell again as he prepared for another attack. Slifer took a deep breath, knowing he couldn't wait any longer.

“Slifer," Tarnyx roared, his bald head gleaming menacingly, "prepare to face your end!"

Slifer rolled his eyes. "Really? You couldn't come up with a better line?"

Tarnyx's face turned an even deeper shade of red, if that was possible. "Silence! This is your last moment, and—"

Before the bald elder could complete his clichéd sentence, Slifer, seeing no other option, activated the Peak Slifer Card. System, activate the overpowered, and credit-eating Peak Slifer Card. And if I see a ridiculous amount of credits disappear, we're going to have a long chat!

Almost instantly, an overpowering aura began to emanate from Slifer’s very core. It first shattered the Qi Refining Realm, sending ripples through the surroundings. Not stopping there, it surged upwards, breaking through the Foundation Establishment. Trees rustled and birds took flight in alarm. As it further breached the Core Formation Realm, the clouds in the sky began to swirl and change, reacting to the sudden outburst of energy. And then, with an overwhelming surge, it touched the Nascent Soul Realm, causing a sonic boom that echoed across the area.

But the climax was when it stopped at Half-Step Origin. The aura released a shockwave so potent that it caught Yurna off guard, she was sent flying off her sword. Her scream echoed briefly before being lost in the wind.

The disciples' eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Fenlock, eyes bulging, stammered, "I... I thought Elder was injured!"

Slifer felt the raw, unbridled power in every fiber of his being. It was exhilarating. He could sense everything - the rustling of each leaf, the heartbeat of a bird flapping its wings, even the soft hum of energy in the distant mountains. So this is spiritual sense, he marveled, It's like seeing the world with the eyes of a god.

In his newfound clarity, he also sensed Yurna's trajectory. An awkward pang of guilt hit him. Oops. Hope she's okay.

Pulling his focus back to Tarnyx, Slifer was met with an unimpressed glare. The old man scoffed, "All these theatrics and for what? It won't change your fate today."

What is this cannon fodder yapping about? Slifer thought as he relished in the feeling of the power surging within him.

Ding! 10 Minutes Remaining

Slifer glanced at the dwindling time limit of the Peak Slifer Card. He felt a surge of urgency. The clock was ticking, and he had to defeat Tarnyx before the card's effects ran out.

His mind raced, sifting through the memories of the original Slifer to recall the most potent techniques. Just as he solidified a plan, Tarnyx lunged forward, using the move he was best known for, the "Titan's Crushing Palm."

Slifer, reacting quickly, summoned one of original’s most powerful defensive techniques: Darkflame Ward.

Flames as black as the night sky rose around him, creating a barrier meant to consume any attack. However, unfamiliar with the technique's intricacies, Slifer's control wavered. Instead of a solid wall of fire, the flames flickered like erratic candlelight. Shit, that was not what I was expecting.

The Titan's Crushing Palm broke through the flimsy barrier and connected squarely with Slifer, sending him flying back, crashing into trees and leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

Slifer hit the ground with a thud, feeling as though every bone in his body had shattered. He tried to suppress a scream, gritting his teeth and taking short, sharp breaths. As a couch potato, he was not used to pain… or exercise for that matter.

But as the pain reached its peak, it suddenly... vanished. Surprised, Slifer inspected himself to find not a single scratch on him. Even more shockingly, his qi, which he expected to be greatly diminished, was pulsating at full capacity.

Amidst his astonishment, he began laughing uproariously. The sound of his laughter echoed through the forest, causing the Black Rose disciples to exchange uneasy glances.

Fenlock whispered to the disciple beside him, "Is... is Elder Slifer losing his mind?"

Dentos replied in a hushed voice, "It must be the trauma from the attack. I've heard of cultivators laughing like madmen after surviving near-death experiences."

Yurna just stared wide-eyed, her earlier fear replaced with pure confusion.

Reveling in his newfound realization, Slifer thought to himself, So, the Peak Card keeps me in Slifer's optimal state! It's as if I'm immortal! He grinned, wiping away a tear from laughing so hard. "Oh, Tarnyx," he said with a mocking tone, "you truly are outmatched today. Immortality is quite the feeling!"

I’m just going to spam powerful attacks one after another, let’s see how you deal with that! With a flick of his wrist, Slifer summoned the Shadow Serpent Inferno.

A colossal, shadowy serpent manifested from the dark mist around him, slithering through the air with menacing grace. As it moved, dark flames trailed behind, painting the sky with a dance of darkness.

However, when Slifer attempted to direct the serpent toward Tarnyx, the creature, instead of following a straight path, made a detour and circled around, narrowly avoiding Dentos, who yelped in surprise. Oops, gotta practice my control, Slifer thought, inwardly cringing at the serpent's wayward movements. Don’t want another accidental death on my hands.

Tarnyx, seeing the incoming attack, quickly used his prized defensive technique, Aegis Titan Shell. A rock-solid protective barrier enveloped his body. But the shadow serpents, persistent and relentless, wrapped around the shell, constricting and tightening around him. Tarnyx's once-confident face twisted in alarm.

From a distance, Brolin whispered to Yurna, "Did... did Elder Slifer just mess up a legendary technique and still manage to make it work?"

Yurna, who was picking out the leaves and twigs in her hair, could only nod. "It's like watching someone trip and accidentally perform a perfect somersault," she mumbled.

Without giving his opponent a moment's respite, Slifer unleashed another technique: Stellar Cascade Fury. The skies above darkened momentarily before a shower of glittering stars rained down, each star a concentrated ball of spiritual energy, destined to explode upon impact.

"How in the Seven Heavens..." Tarnyx started, incredulous, "can you continue using such advanced techniques without pause?"

Before he could finish his rant, the onslaught of stars struck him, drowning out his voice and leaving only the resounding booms of the explosions in the air.

Oh, Tarnyx, Slifer smirked internally, I hope this teaches you not to mess with someone who has an overpowered cheat system at his disposal.

As the brilliant shower of stars began its descent, Slifer's smirk faded, replaced by a look of utter disbelief. He had just realized that he'd accidentally included himself in the attack's trajectory.

Well, this is awkward, he thought, watching the dazzling stars zooming towards him. If one of those stars obliterates me in a single strike, that Peak Card healing perk might be useless.

With little time to think, Slifer summoned the Darkflame Ward again. Dark, ethereal flames enveloped him, forming a protective barrier. As the stars made contact, bright explosions erupted upon the ward's surface, sending shockwaves in all directions. Although the barrier did an excellent job of deflecting most of the impacts, a few managed to break through, scorching Slifer's robes and leaving light burn marks on his arms and chest. Before he could even wince, the burns began to fade, rapidly healed by the card's power.

Meanwhile, the disciples exchanged bewildered glances, trying to make sense of what they'd just witnessed.

"Did... did he just attack himself?" Brolin whispered, his eyes wide in confusion.

Yurna responded with a hushed chuckle, "Seems like the Elder's taken a liking to pain. A bit of a masochistic streak, perhaps?"

Dentos added, "If reaching Nascent Soul means turning this... unpredictable, I think I might be content in Core Formation."

From the crater created by Slifer's attack, a severely injured Tarnyx began to rise. His once robust and muscular frame now bore deep gashes and charred skin, his robes tattered and singed. Blood dripped from his wounds, and his bald head, which previously gleamed menacingly, was now smeared with dirt and ash.

"You...," he coughed, pointing a shaky finger at Slifer. "This isn't over, Slifer. I will be back, and you will rue the day you crossed paths with Tarnyx of the Radiant Dawn Sect."

He really does sound like a typical Xianxia villain, complete with the exit lines.

Slifer hesitated, his hand hovering in mid-air. Back on Earth, the closest thing to murder he'd committed was annihilating a double bacon cheeseburger. Now here he was, contemplating actual killing.

His gaze sharpened as he shook off the hesitation. But in xianxia logic, if I don't finish him off, he'll just come back with an even bigger grudge and a Power-Up Orb or something. And that's a headache I don't need right now. He took a deep breath. "I can't let you leave here alive," he finally stated, extending his hand with newfound resolve. I've read enough to know you don't let a vengeful cultivator skulk away. It's like rule number one. Plus, I really do need those credits.

Instantly, an overwhelming force of darkness emanated from him, swiftly expanding outwards and surrounding Tarnyx.

Tarnyx's eyes widened in horror. He never expected this. “A D-Domain? At Nascent Soul Realm? Impossible!” He tried to dash out, but as the shadows thickened, he quickly found himself enclosed in an inky void, hitting an unseen barrier.

A cultivator of Tarnyx's experience immediately recognized the terrifying power of a domain. Yet, such a capability was commonly reserved for the venerable cultivators of the Origin Realm. Only the rarest of prodigies in the Nascent Soul realm could command such power. And from what Tarnyx knew of Slifer, he was no prodigy.

The darkness consumed Tarnyx, severing his senses one by one. He was rendered blind, deaf, robbed of smell and even his spiritual sense. Desperation gripped him, and panic set in as only his sense of touch remained. He tried to use short distance teleportation, an ability characteristic of the Nascent Soul realm, to break free, but his attempts repeatedly failed.

If only I had known... Tarnyx thought, his heart pounding. If only I knew this monster could command a domain. I would never have dared to challenge him. The realization that domains provided a nearly insurmountable advantage weighed on him. With such power, Slifer could easily decimate numerous cultivators of a similar rank.

Heir? Bah! What use is an heir in the face of death? I, Tarnyx of the Radiant Dawn Sect, can sire countless heirs under the heavens!

"Oh, what did I do to deserve such an unfilial son?" Tarnyx cursed under his breath, wishing this son of his had never crossed paths with this calamity of a cultivator.

From the outside, the disciples could only see a vast expanse of darkness, like a blotch of ink splattered against the landscape. Their faces registered shock and awe.

"I...I didn't know Elder Slifer had a domain," Yurna murmured, her voice quivering.

"If Elder has this kind of power, then Tyrus... he must truly be gone," Dentos added.

Fenlock, his eyes never leaving the dome of darkness, muttered, "This changes everything. Master must be informed."

With a thought, Slifer attempted a short-distance teleportation, aiming to appear right before Tarnyx. Instead, he materialized upside-down, momentarily flailing before righting himself.

That... was not how it's supposed to go, he thought, clearing his throat and straightening his robes, grateful no one had seen his unintended acrobatics. He could not think of any excuse that could explain it.

“Erm, anyways, time to earn me some credits!”